The Hafez and Hammer-Purgstall Cultural Association, founded and directed by Hassan Javaheri, is a transnational network active in the fields of intellectual, philosophical, scientific, and cultural exchange. It has been shaped through the collaboration of Iranian scholars residing in Austria, along with the support of European—particularly Austrian—scientists, thinkers, and cultural figures. The Association’s mission is to promote dialogue, critical reflection, and cooperation in philosophy, Iranian studies, and Persian language and literature, while also strengthening cultural ties between Iran and Austria.

The Association currently operates through several main departments, each dedicated to a specific field of intellectual, cultural, artistic, or literary activity. Among them, the Department of Philosophy and Science stands out as the leading division for philosophical and scientific initiatives. It is headed by Dr. Reza Gholami, senior lecturer in political philosophy and in cultural and civilizational studies, and faculty member at the Research Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies in Tehran. Under his leadership, the Department of Philosophy and Science has become a dynamic center for academic dialogue and philosophical exchange, with many of its events conducted in English and accessible online to an international audience.

The Association has benefited greatly from the continuous support of the Iranian Wisdom House in Vienna, with which it maintains close cooperation. The Iranian Wisdom House takes its name from the historic Bayt al-Hikma (House of Wisdom) of Iranian-Islamic civilization, once the largest scientific center in the Islamic world and Iran. A significant part of the Association’s intellectual and cultural programs are carried out in synergy with this institution, which has substantially enhanced both the scholarly depth and international outreach of the Association’s activities.

Other cultural, artistic, and literary programs of the Association are organized through its additional departments, all contributing to its broader mission of deepening cultural understanding and upholding humanistic values. The Association’s events are hosted in various venues—including universities, cultural centers, libraries, and cafés—and many take place in the Avicenna Hall, located within the Cultural Representation of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Austria.

Remaining free from ideological or political affiliations, the Hafez and Hammer-Purgstall Cultural Association bases its activities on wisdom, rationality, justice, and ethics, and remains firmly committed to respecting Austrian laws and values.